Behind the Scenes of Food Network Star, Season 10

Find out what Food Network Star finalists and mentors are up to on set when the cameras stop rolling.

Episode 11: The Calm Before Stardom

Ahead of the cast and Committee's grand entrance, this is what the set looked like, complete with dramatic lighting and an oversize screen.

Episode 11: Familiar Surroundings

The studio in which the finale was filmed is also home to the Chopped kitchen and Iron Chef America's Kitchen Stadium.

Episode 11: Cowboy Carry

Chris welcomed a pick-me-up from Lenny in the holding area backstage.

Episode 11: Together Again

Before the finalists took their places on set, they reunited for a final photo in the wings.

Episode 11: From Their Point of view

This perspective was rarely seen on television — it's the view of the cast from the Committee's seats on set.

Episode 11: Funny Face Central

The hopefuls didn't let the stresses of the day stop them from showing off their silly sides.

Episode 11: The Return of Fast Casual

Kenny spotted the on-set photographer from afar and waved an over-the-shoulder thumbs-up during a down moment in filming.

Episode 11: Finalist Friends

It's no secret that the show spurred lifelong friendships among the finalists, particularly among several of the ladies.

Episode 11: What's So Funny?

Giada found herself with a case of the giggles. Was it something Alton said?

Episode 11: Inside Joke

The contestants couldn't help but laugh as they watched themselves on screen while reliving the most-hilarious moments of the season, plus some never-before-seen clips.

Episode 11: Alton's Watching

A few members of the Committee shifted their focus away from the show to shoot a head-on glance to the photographer.

Episode 11: Fulfilling a Promise

Lenny had said that if he won Food Network Star, he would gift his infamous belt buckle to Alton, and sure enough, Lenny handed it over after the show.

Episode 11: Giving Thanks

After accepting the crown, Lenny checked in with several members of the production crew to offer his thanks for their support.

Episode 10: Italian Pride

Giada just couldn't contain her excitement after watching Luca tape a stellar promo.

Episode 10: Time for Laughs

Despite Lenny's self-described "babbling," during his promo tape, he and the mentors managed to laugh about the experience on set at Gotham West Market.

Episode 10: Contestant vs. Camera

Nearly all of the finalists have struggled with connecting with the camera at some point during the competition, and they ultimately put their growth to the test in what would be their most-important challenge.

Episode 10: Different Perspective

In this panned-out shot at Tao Downtown, it's clear to see what the Selection Committee sees — a crew of camerapersons and producers — from their seats at the judges' table.

Episode 10: Taste Test

That clam Robert snatched from Nicole's finished dish? He did indeed taste it.

Episode 10: Screen Time

As the hopefuls taped their pilots, Robert watched their performances on a monitor to gauge how their actions would translate to TV.

Episode 10: What It Takes

Bocca di Bacco, where Luca filmed his pilot, was closed to guests during the afternoon of filming so the crew could tape without interruption.

Episode 9: A Fifth of the Production

The Food Network Star production crew had to move quickly through all of the chosen shops inside Chelsea Market, as taping took place on a normal workday for the businesses.

Episode 9: Deep Thought

Sarah took a moment to regroup in Food Star Kitchen before beginning work on her next challenge.

Episode 9: Surveying the Selection

Luca got up close and personal with some of the shellfish offerings at his assigned outpost: The Lobster Place.

Episode 9: On Rachael's Turf

Finalists knew they'd arrived at The Rachael Ray Show even before they entered the building, as the scaffolding outside was blanketed with posters of the 30-minute maven's face and name.

Episode 9: Multiple Conversations

As Alton and Giada exchanged words on the set of Rachael's show, Bobby and the host caught up in front of them before filming began.

Episode 8: High Stakes

Although some of the tables had to be moved to make way for filming, the 4,500-square-foot poker room at Caesars Palace normally can fit a whopping 16 tables.

Episode 8: Ice Cream Screams

Nicole couldn't contain her glee at the prospect of tasting an opulent $1,000 ice cream sundae at Las Vegas' Serendipity 3.

Episode 8: Team Chat

In the midst of the memorable dining experiences challenge, Sarah, Nicole and Luca came together for a moment to regroup on their progress and their plans for the rest of the test.

Episode 7: All Hands

It takes dozens of crew members to pull off a production as large as Food Network Star, no matter if the show is being filmed in a studio or on location.

Episode 7: Anything It Takes

To make sure they could capture the best-possible shots of the finalists and mentors during elimination, several cameramen were stationed in the pool.

Episode 7: On Location

The hopefuls came together for a laid-back group photo during their first destination outside of Los Angeles since the competition began.

Episode 7: Keeping Promises

After earning the most tokens at the pool party, Lenny stayed true to his word and belly-flopped into the pool, much to the amusement of the guests and mentors alike.

Episode 6: Team Unity

Although they're all fighting for a single coveted prize, the finalists put their rivalries aside and came together for a good-natured photo during filming.

Episode 6: In Paris — Almost

Filming in the world's only 360-degree green screen, the finalists were forced to imagine their exotic settings with the help of props, since the space around them was simply green. But thanks to a specialized, advanced camera, what appeared on-screen was far from simple; it transformed the scene into remote settings like Paris, a tomato farm and even the moon.

Episode 6: Sideline Support

As he worked to tape his hot-sauce commercial, Lenny received some professional tips from director Sal.

Episode 6: Taking It In

Seemingly in awe of the space around her, Sarah surveys the oversize green space that surrounds her and the other finalists on set.

Episode 6: Side-Eye

Bobby and Giada couldn't help but look to their left with jaws dropped as they took in the competition unfolding around them.

Episode 6: Quick Visit

Whether she was looking for a needed ingredient or was simply hoping to chitchat, Sarah found time to drop by Emma's station during the hopefuls' limited time to prepare.

Episode 5: On Location

The "elite eight" finalists, according to Bobby, left behind Food Star Kitchen this week for a field trip of sorts to Knott's Berry Farm, a famed all-American amusement park.

Episode 5: Setting the Scene

You saw the finalists' cooking stations overflowing with ingredients and tools during their prep work, but what you may not have noticed was how pristinely set up the workspaces were before filming began.

Episode 5: All Angles Covered

It takes two camerapersons — plus multiple crewmembers not pictured — to capture one scene. Here, two guys filmed the mentors' visit to Emma's station before she presented on stage.

Episode 5: Speed Shopping

On Food Network Star, there's hardly ever time to waste, especially in the midst of a timed cooking challenge, so Sarah shopped fast and furiously for the ingredients she needed to pull off her hamburger and pasta salad.

Episode 5: Technical Preparedness

Before Lenny demoed his fish tacos and guacamole, he caught up with a crewmember who made sure that his microphone was securely in place.

Episode 5: Part of the Crowd

No fewer than 400 people gathered in the grandstands to watch the finalists take the stage and demo their 4th of July feasts.

Episode 4: Team Hug

Chris, Sarah and Emma come together for a quick hug before beginning work on their team's viral video.

Episode 4: PayDay Play Time

Yes, you're seeing that correctly. Lenny used rolls of everyday tape to stick dozens of PayDay candy bars to his body.

Episode 4: YouTubers

Aryen and Loreal check out the digs at YouTube Space LA during a break in filming the week four Star Challenge.

Episode 4: What Just Happened?

"I can't unsee that," Alton said after viewing Lenny, Aryen and Christopher's monster-themed video. Here Alton's showing off a puzzled look while watching one of the films unfold on screen.

Episode 4: Hilariously Real

Finalists could barely contain themselves as they watched themselves and their rivals in the marketing videos for the first time.

Episode 3: Decision Makers

Giada couldn't make it to the third episode, so the guys of Food Network Star along with Cutthroat Kitchen judge Jet Tila oversaw the challenges. Here they take a few seconds' break from filming to indulge in on-set laughter at the judges' table.

Episode 3: Covert Chatter

No matter the no-nonsense challenge taking place around her, Nicole paused — if only briefly — her preparations to chat with Alton on the sidelines.

Episode 3: Wow-Worthy Happenings

Whether on account of shock, fear or simple surprise, Christopher's face revealed just what he was likely thinking, and Alton was nearby to witness the moment for himself.

Episode 3: Stain Resistant

"I would love to come closer to your station, but I'm scared to death of all that red stuff," Alton told Aryen, as the latter backed away from a brightly colored sauce.

Episode 2: Girl Talk

Aryen and Sarah make time for a few moments of chitchat as they wait for filming to resume during the Episode 2 Mentor Challenge.

More: Food Network Star, Season 10: Top Moments of Episode 2

Episode 2: What's So Funny?

Whoever said Food Network Star is all work and no play hasn't taken a seat at the judges' table. Alton's barely able to control a laughing fit as he, Giada and Bobby wait to watch the next hopeful's video.

Episode 2: A Surprise(d) Guest

The Iron Chef stopped by to be the surprise "at-home" viewer cooking alongside each finalist, and it appeared that something on set shocked her as much as her appearance floored the finalists.

Episode 1: Luxury Ride

The mentors traveled to the Star set in style, as Bobby took the wheel of a golf cart and Giada joined as his co-pilot, while Alton claimed the back seat all to himself.

More: Food Network Star, Season 10: Top Moments of the Premiere

Episode 1: On the Lot

True to form in the movie business, the Hollywood back lot on which the premiere episode was filmed appeared strikingly real as a small street lined with shops, but in fact it wasn't in working condition. At night, the lot was transformed with warm lights and served as the setting of the swanky party.

Episode 1: Early Reflections

Bobby, Giada and Alton gathered on set before the premiere party, and during a brief break in filming, they were caught midgaze.

Episode 1: From Their Point of View

It's not often that fans catch a glimpse of the mentors' view of Food Star Kitchen. This here is the sight seen from their perspective as they look out from their table to the finalists, who await word of evaluation.

Episode 1: Intense Deliberation

The Selection Committee took the time to absorb their challenge notes and gather their thoughts as they considered whom to send home from the premiere.

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